Problems after using Sandisk Micro flash drive

Okay. I uninstalled via Control Panel, uninstall programs. The Conexant device was listed in the programs. Weird thing tho, I chose uninstall/change and it showed that it was configuring drivers & installing and told me it was installed & ready to use. But then it disappeared from the program list when it was finished. So I assume it really did uninstall vs. install.
This computer is so new to me that I don't even know what programs it came with for CD/DVD creation/burning besides Windows Media Player...
I ran disk management. I have C: which I assume is my hard drive, Audio CD (E: ) primary partition and Recovery (D: ) primary partition, all of which show that they are healthy, whatever that means.
Tammy

EDIT
Since I uninstall the Conexant device, it now shows High Definition Audio Device. Shouldn't it show nothing since I uninstalled it? I tried re-installing the Conexant driver/software package I found, it goes through the whole frickin process then at the end says it can't install drivers because it can't find the MEDIA device. ARGHH! And now it's misbehaving again- games won't open, the Sound window from Control panel freezes, etc like before. I assume it's because whatever device it says it's using is the problem. I'm so confused at this point!

My comments embedded below in blue

/** EDIT **/
And, btw, when a device is connected Windows should ALWAYS be able to detect it. Drivers are not needed simply for detection (they're needed to to allow you full function, i/o and control of the device. Windows actually gets the device name from the driver it finds. It's probably finding a DIFFERENT generic driver now that we removed the Conexant driver. in any, case is ok for now. (If Windows finds NO drivers at all, you should expect it to be called Other Device or Unknown Device but should still appear whenn connected!

Here's my program list. Can you take a look at it and let me know if you see something? I don't see anything for creation/burning of CDs or DVDs which seems odd that they give you a CD/DVD burner but no software to use it? I am going to see about building the recovery disk set as soon as I actually get out of bed...
Thanks!

Here's a couple quick things as i start to go through stuff (you might also try looking thru HP site for instructions to create install disks from their recovery partition. If you can't find it, let me know and i'll look as well)

In the meantime,
1. The SFC command txt file you sent me only reported 2 problems: both were for the Windows Sidebar initialization. Don't know that it's related to your problem, but try disabling Windows Sidebar from starting for now.

2. We should also let Vista scan your C: drive to look for/fix any filesystem corruption (just good housekeeping as well as diagnostic/repair reasons). See this link . Check all the fix/repair options and let it run. NOTE: It may take a looong time to run (even appear to hang as it can be slow) but give it at least 30+ minutes on the same screen display before suspecting a possible hang.

I did a quick skim, if I understand this is a new laptop, if there isn't a lot of data perhaps the easy way out is to backup your data and reload windows with your recovery CD/partition.

not that I'm a big fan of giving up but it may be the quickest way out.

1) Is easy to at least attempt / try a Windows Repair install first (as previously suggested we should also be trying) and before attempting a full re-install.
=> Windows repair install attempts to re-install/fix Windows without overwriting any other existing data/program installs
=> Windows full re-install means you have to reformat and start from scratch

2) More importantly, before attempting EITHER or ANY reinstall, a user should FIRST create their install disks so no matter what happens they always have CD/DVD disks to use for recovery if by any means they should lose their recovery partition (They should create these disks before any reinstall attempt)

I am done creating the recovery disks . Let me know how to proceed with repair install.

Suggest we do things in this order

1. Verify you can boot up your computer from your recovery disks.
Then put them aside and reboot normally. Do not continue to Step 2 until confident of Step 1

2. Let’s first attempt normal Windows update / Driver and Program reinstalls and repairs

• Click for HP's Vista driver install list for computer (if you had seen / found a different page on your own let me know before proceeding). When installing, should it ask
  => Should it repair? say, yes, let it repair
  => Should it uninstall other versioons first?, yes, let it uninstall anything current/prior versions before continuing
• From Control Panel->Add/Remove programs, remove: Java(TM) 6 Update 7
• Install the Driver - Chipset
• Install Operating System - Enhancements and QFEs
• From an Internet Explorer window, enter www.windowsupdate.com. Hit Custom. Install all High Priority and Hardware optional updates. (Software optional are your choice)
• Then from the HP driver download site, Install Driver Audio
• Install HP DVD Play
• Run HP Software updates (probably under Start->Programs->HP)

Notes:

You are also running Cyberlink DVD Player related products and HP Games tho i can't presently find any reinstall packages to download/reinstall them. So just try the above steps first.

We will use your recovery partition since it's there. Will update this post a little later with info.

/* EDIT */
Here's some links you might find helpful (in general) if you haven't come across them yet yourself
Repairing a Corrupted Installation Using HP Recovery Manager
Using HP Backup and Recovery Manager
And finally, if you need go that next step, I think this is a good tutorial on to How Perform a Windows Vista Repair (And appears you need do the Repair install using your recovery disks. The HP partition will only do a full re-install as i understand it from what i skimmed through)

Let us know how things turn out!

When I go to www.windowsupdate.com it opens my System Maintenance, Windows Update automatically. It shows that windows is up to date and I don't get any options to custom install anything... was I supposed to have done something before this step that would have changed this? Also, I can't install the Conexant driver... it's not saying it can't find the media device anymore. Now it just says "Failure" when it's done.
Now what?

Open IE, click on Tools, select Windows Update from there...

Okay, I do that and it brings me to the same place... but I do have a hyperlink for additional updates, and it has the Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221. So, I click on it to install and it goes throught the process and then shows that it fails, due to an unknown error....

It may be time for an OS clean install

1) My apologies. I forgot the Windows update interface is a bit different for Vista then in XP (where Express/Custom buttons apply for XP)
2.) For more detail on running Windows update on Vista you can click here
3) Sounds like Windows Update found your Audio driver correctly but, as you report, couldn't install it. Does that mean you did steps 1, 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d without problem?
4) Were any other updates found and installed? Did you try any other installs via Windows update. Or just the Audio driver found (the Conexant thingy) you found and then it failed to install? (As the latter case at least could mean it's Audio driver issue rather then Windows general issue)
5. In any case, i also forgot to note before (even a Repair install) is best to backup your data (even tho Repair Install shouldn't touch/affect your data nothing is 100% with computers. So best to be cautious before doing so :suspiciou )

I did all the steps without problem. I had nothing new to install for Windows except for the Driver, which wouldn't install. I think I finally reached a point where I was tired of trying to figure it out because nothing was working.
So, I burned all the files that I wanted to keep onto a CD and did the system recovery to factory settings. And, it works great! Sound works, games work, no shutdown issues. Woohoo! And guess what I WON'T be doing? I will not plug that flash drive back into this laptop. EVER.
Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tammy

What a struggle... Glad you finally took my advice. Happy Computing

Hey! Glad to hear the good news.... :grinthumb

Though is good to clarify terminology for anyone reading this thread....

System Restore vs. a System Recovery are two very different and distinct procedures yielding very different results so one should be clear which they are doing (and the result they expect)

• System Restore - attempts to restore your computer to a prior date/time when your computer worked great. System and program data may be modified but your personal data and files shouldn't be affected after a System Restore attempt
• System Recovery ("going back to factory defaults") is a more radical procedure. This is essentially a full Windows re-install where your disk is wipe clean! and restored back to the date when you bought it new

1. One should attempt System Restore first
   => Which it seems everyone agreed upon. And you did. A week ago. And reported it didn't work a week ago
2. Before ever attempting System Recovery, i advise
   => One should absolutely and without question be careful to look for a recovery partition and build your recovery disks before any operating system repair or re-install attempt
   => Consider / try system repair options before jumping into a System Recovery
   => Take the time to back up your data (as you may lose it when repairing and guaranteed to lose it in System Recovery (i.e. Windows re-install)

So glad to see you started with a System Restore (as we all unanimously agreed). But when that failed a week ago you took a bit of time and needed steps before deciding to end with a System Recovery. Hope your computer continues to behave well!

I use the System Restore feature on laptops all the time, especially if the laptop is under 6 months old. System Recovery techniques are used mainly on desktop computers

1. Both System Restore and System Recovery techniques are routinely used on both laptops and desktops (The techniques and order of the techniques one chooses is important) But I don't follow how whether you're fixing a laptop vs. desktop is an issue in the decision

=> System Restore can work (or fail to work) and solve the problem whether on laptop or desktop
=> And you're saying System Recovery / Windows re-installs are best suited for desktops? not so for laptops??????
=> Or is there some confusion over use of terminology? (see my prior post)

Geez Tmagic650, have you ever heard the saying quit whilst you're behind